GuitarFest, the Isle of Man’s celebration of all things guitar, returns to the Villa Marina Arcade this autumn with a star-studded line-up, JonnoPromotions have announced.

The two-day spectacle, an integral part of the local music scene since 2008, will this year be headlined by the talented and prolific Nick Harper, returning to the Island after a four year gap.

With its mix of live performances and workshops, GuitarFest also features virtuoso classical guitarist, intercultural pioneer and composer, Simon Thacker, and his “Karmana” Trio, comprising the outstanding Polish cellist, Justyna Jablonska and the Delhi-born tabla master, Sarvar Sabri.

Nick Harper’s ever-growing reputation as a real showman follows plenty of years working hard in the live music arena. During this time, he featured as a member of Squeeze in the late 90s, and his playing style became a major influence to developing artists, such as Jon Gomm, who have gone on to achieve prominence in their own right.

The Times recently described Nick as someone who “has so much musicianship in him that it just leaks out all over the place.” He has also been variously described as “Dylan for the iPod generation” (Guitarist), “somewhere between Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley” (MOJO) and The Herald reported that “if you’ve never seen him live, you’re missing out on one of the musical phenomenons of our age”.

The guitarist-singer-songwriter, who will perform on GuitarFest 2015’s opening night, Friday October 2nd, also received a glowing reference on the respected blog, Opher’s World: “Nick’s live performances are impressive. He is a showman who deploys wit and cutting humour, along with sharp observation. You never get short-changed at a Nick gig. He puts everything into it".

Meanwhile, on Saturday October 3rd, Simon Thacker and his ground-breaking ensemble will be combining their musical and creative talents with a special performance of “Karmana” which they have recently taken on a highly acclaimed tour of India and Pakistan. According to JonnoPromotions, the occasion promises some of the most liberated, free-spirited new music that east and west can offer, given that Thacker’s work effortlessly transcends boundaries, genres and continents.

The word “Karmana” is Sanskrit for "performing anything by means of magic" and draws upon Thackers’s unique cultural inspirations, exploring the divergence of Indian and Western music. He has also been acclaimed for his creation of unique "soundworlds" that seamlessly meld culture and tradition with innovation and imagination, setting a new benchmark for Indian/Western collaboration. Of Simon’s performances, The Hindu (India) reported: “What Thacker and his team have done is create their own musical tradition,” while Elsewhere (New Zealand) enthused: “Expansive, inclusive and thrillingly inventive.”

In addition to the public performances, Simon and Justyna will each be leading Masterclasses with their respective instruments. As part of the festival, meanwhile, Culture Vannin is sponsoring an additional workshop with acclaimed folk guitar player Jenn Butterworth, a member of the Rachel Hair Trio. Details of these workshops can be found at: www.jonnopromotions.com.

JonnoPromotions founder, Jonathan “Jonno” Gollow, believes GuitarFest 2015 will set new standards in terms of innovation, variety and outright entertainment. “I am very excited about this year’s event because we are privileged to be bringing together a highly talented and eclectic mix of guitarist and string musicians who will provide the Manx music-loving audience with a truly global musical experience,” he said.

GuitarFest is supported by Isle of Man Arts Council, Culture Vannin, Aston International Limited and Swagelok Limited, with tickets available online from www.villagaiety.com, from the hotline on 01624 600555 or in person from the Welcome Centre or Villa Marina Box Office. Tickets for the main performances on the evenings of Friday October 2nd and Saturday October 3rd are ?15 each, whilst entry for the workshops is between ?5 and ?10.

Full details can be found at www.jonnopromotions.com.